Christopher Nolan Unveils First Trailer for The Odyssey Featuring Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon and Tom Holland
Christopher Nolan is heading from atomic history to ancient myth. The acclaimed filmmaker released the first trailer for The Odyssey on Tuesday, offering a dramatic first look at his star-packed adaptation of Homer’s legendary epic. The film marks Nolan’s first project since Oppenheimer, which won Best Picture and earned him his first Best Director Oscar in 2024.
Nolan Reimagines Homer’s Epic with an A-List Cast
The trailer opens on a haunting battlefield scene — desert sand strewn with armor arranged like gravestones, a grim reminder of the Trojan War. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, the Greek king whose long and perilous journey home forms the heart of the story. His narration sets the tone early, with the line “After years of war, no one could stand between my men and home. Not even me.”
From there, Nolan teases a sweeping odyssey filled with mythic dangers. Brief shots show Odysseus’ army battling a massive creature lurking in the shadows, hinting at encounters with monsters like the Cyclops. Anne Hathaway appears as Penelope, Odysseus’ devoted wife, while Tom Holland makes his debut as their son Telemachus. In one of the trailer’s most emotional moments, Penelope begs, “Promise me you’ll come back,” to which Odysseus replies, “What if I can’t?”
One of 2026’s Most Star-Studded Films
Nolan has assembled a powerhouse ensemble for the film. Zendaya portrays the goddess Athena, while Robert Pattinson plays Hermes. Additional cast members include Lupita Nyong’o as Clytemnestra, Charlize Theron as Circe, and Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, giving the project one of the most impressive casts of Nolan’s career.
Speaking to Empire Magazine earlier this year, Nolan explained why he was drawn to adapting Homer’s iconic tale. He said he’d long admired classic mythological films and wanted to bring that world to life with modern scale and gravitas, noting that “I’d never seen that done with the sort of weight and credibility that a big Hollywood, IMAX production could do.”
A New Cinematic Epic Arrives in 2026
With sweeping visuals, mythic battles and emotional stakes, the first trailer signals that The Odyssey may be Nolan’s most ambitious film yet. The director appears determined to bring new cinematic weight to one of history’s oldest stories — and with this cast, anticipation will only grow as its release approaches. The Odyssey arrives in theaters on July 17, 2026. For more entertainment updates, trailer breakdowns and Hollywood coverage, stay with InvestRecords.com.
